Review | Millie Bobby Brown delights us once again with the great ‘Enola Holmes 2’

Spoiler-free review.

Two years ago, Netflix presented us with the great mysterious adventure “Enola Holmes”, a feature film based on the eponymous saga for young adults by Nancy Springer. Emmy-nominated Millie Bobby Brown plays the title character, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (played by Henry Cavill) who also has an undeniable passion and ability to solve crimes. Now we’re back for another long-awaited journey with the upcoming sequel – which overall manages to be even better than the original feature.

Back in Victorian London, Enola decides to open her own investigative firm to step out of Sherlock’s shadow and build a successful career. However, things don’t go as planned, as she faces the ingrained machismo and patriarchy in society at the time, with countless potential clients belittling her for her age and for being a woman. About to close the doors of the newly opened office, she is contacted by young Bessie (Serranna Su-Ling Bliss), who asks her to investigate the disappearance of her sister-in-law. Seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, Enola embarks on another mission and, along the way, meets some valuable people who can help her solve a dangerous riddle far more difficult than she imagined.

Brown has proven her talents on screen time and time again: after all, she played Eleven in the acclaimed sci-fi series ‘Stranger Things’, which solidified her career, in addition to having participated in ‘Godzilla II’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’, earning accolades for true and profound performances. true to what was seen in the very distant past and features new facets, including funnier layers and the most touching moments of his relationship with Sherlock and Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge) – and all without let it fade away.

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Harry Bradbeer also returns to the director’s chair, which turns out to be a smart move: little by little, a shared Holmes universe is being built, in which, in this case, the star returns to Enola. In several sequences, we note Bradbeer’s inspirations in period dramas and thrillers, whether in the scenic direction or the color palette. Of course, there’s not much to do in terms of originality – and considering we’re dealing with a plot that’s about class struggle and corruption, it was just obvious that we’d have the contrast between the uninhibited and luxurious life of the bourgeoisie against the terrible working conditions of the working population, forced to compose with the bare minimum to survive.

In fact, it’s a film that doesn’t have as its primary goal to incite discussions about gender and racial roles, but uses such thoughts to explain each character’s motivations. The romantic arc between Tewksbury and Enola has existed since the previous chapter and remains independent of the titular character’s aspirations and need to help others. She knows she can fall in love and that she needs people by her side to support her, but she is an independent and self-possessed young woman. In addition, she is gifted with a unique empathy which, as she can prevent her from understanding certain things, allows her to understand the reasons why people must commit acts of desperation to save themselves.

The cast is the highlight of the sequel: in addition to those already mentioned, we have the illustrious and brief presence of Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes, mother of Enola, Sherlock and an absent Mycroft, which may appear in possible future iterations; we have Susie Wokoma as Edith, Enola’s mentor and one of the key elements helping the detective; and David Thewlis in another villainous incarnation, fresh out of “Sandman” as the corrupt Superintendent Grail, who will do anything to achieve his goals – even ally with those he shouldn’t. Again, we’ve got a template for supporting characters and antagonists to follow, steeped in familiar meanings and, to our delight, practical throughout.

“Enola Holmes 2” is another great addition to Holmes’ spy universe, paying homage to classic productions of the genre and entering as another fine adaptation of the original novels. More than that, I dare say that the sequel is even better than the initial chapter, betting more on engaging dramatization, well-choreographed action scenes and an enviable balance between suspense, comedy and mystery – in addition to a twist unexpected that opens up a bright future.

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